Offering Help and Resources for Families dealing with Addiction

Help for Family and Friends!

When a family member has a drug or alcohol dependency, the entire family is affected by the addiction.

Communication barriers between addicts and loved ones are symptoms of addictive behavior. Frustrated family members and friends often despair when sincere efforts to help fail. Without exception, addiction affects more than the addict.

Family members may have tried to communicate their concern early in the loved one’s addiction, but without success. Addicts have a hard time accepting that they have a problem, therefore they will deny or hide their substance abuse. Feeling misunderstood they often isolate themselves, refusing communication with loved ones. At this point their substance of choice is their understanding friend. Effective communication is a vital lifeline to recovery. Breakdowns in communication can be mended with proper knowledge and understanding.

It is very common for family members and friends to unwittingly take on the position of “enabler” or “co-dependent”. This never helps the addict but actually feeds their addiction and jeopardizes recovery. For some loved ones this is simply a coping mechanism to deal with the continual chaos. Although they mean well, this is not a solution for recovery. The addictive behavior can only stopped as the individual begins to be responsible for himself or herself, actions, and choices. Hiding or making excuses for the addict will not lead them to sobriety.

It can be a very lonely place living with an addict. One may experience shame, fear, depression, hopelessness, frustration and anger. You need to know that you are not alone; there are many others who are suffering through the same experiences and emotions. It is not your fault! Even if you have become an enabler, the addict is suffering because of deep emotions that need to surface and be healed. It is important that those affected by the addict also receive counsel, to help them through these difficult emotions and trials. Be encouraged; there is hope!

Drug Addiction On School Campuses

How Does Addiction Affect the Children?

Addiction often creates an unstable family environment. Parents with addictive behavior may not be in a healthy mind set to effectively protect, care for, or discipline their children or provide them with training in basic life skills. Such children experience feelings of insecurity or abandonment. It is not uncommon for these children to take on adult responsibilities inappropriate for their age. Children in families where an addiction is present are more likely to show anti-social behavior and have apparent problems such as truancy, aggressiveness, hyperactivity and eating disorders.